The best bars in Houston right now

What is it? A hidden bar inside the Four Seasons Houston that feels like a 1920s lounge, serving up Latin vibes and inventive cocktails.

Why we love it: Bandista leans into the speakeasy theme (a host will lead you through the back of the house to a hidden bookcase guarded by a keypad) without ever feeling gimmicky. Because once inside, the bartenders are all about hospitality and high-quality drinks. And with just 20 total seats—eight at the bar and 12 in the adjacent lounge—they are always attentive. Drinks are creative, enlisting scientific techniques like vacuum distillation and clarification, and cocktails range from classic to esoteric. If you can’t decide, request the Dealer’s Choice, and the bartender will ask you a few questions before using your replies to craft a custom drink.

Time Out tip: Keep an eye on Bandista’s social media for word of upcoming pop-ups. Over the past couple years, they’ve hosted great bars from around the country and the world, including Employees Only from New York, Jewel of the South from New Orleans, and Virtu from Tokyo.

Address: 1300 Lamar St, Houston, TX 77010

Opening hours: Wed-Sat 5pm-12am

Expect to pay: Upwards of $20 per drink.

What is it? A sister concept to Anvil that’s located behind the flagship bar in a second-floor spot accessible via a dark staircase.  

Why we love it: This Montrose cocktail bar is the second coming of Tongue Cut Sparrow, the high-class bar that closed a couple years ago to make way for Refuge. It still provides hot towels, gorgeous glassware and polished service, just now in a slightly different space. The menu features originals, classics and riffs, mini cocktails—perfect for when you want a drink with a smaller kick—and “excessives,” like a Cadillac Margarita, made with private barrel mezcal. Food options are limited but thoughtful, like a grilled cheese sandwich with smoked gouda and pear, and a Nordic-style smorgasbord of smoked seafood and pickles. Refuge also operates the coffee shop downstairs, which is open during the day for caffeine runs and snacks alongside beers, wines and cocktails.

Time Out tip: Once you’ve worked your way through the cocktails at Refuge, ask to see the Captain’s List. It skips a lot of the obvious bottles and is instead stocked with top-notch examples across categories like whiskey, shochu, brandy, agave and amaro.

Address: 1424 Westheimer Rd, Suite A, Houston, TX 77006

Opening hours: Tues-Wed 5:30pm-12am; Thurs-Sat 5:30pm-2am

Expect to pay: Most cocktails are $16, and snacks start at $12.

What is it? Opened in 2009 and still going strong, Anvil helped to put Houston cocktails on the map. And its influence is felt far outside its own doors. So many of the city’s top bartenders have worked here over the years that it’s difficult to drink a cocktail in Houston without running across an Anvil alum. 

Why we love it: This low-slung, brick-walled bar works for seemingly every occasion, from casual happy hours to dates and everything between. The seasonal cocktail list is always interesting, with unique flavor combinations that don’t sacrifice balance. Even when the bar is packed, the friendly staffers are quick to supply menus and a spot to sit or stand, and the drinks come out surprisingly fast considering the complexity that goes into many of the recipes.   

Time Out tip: You’ll no doubt find something you like on the signature cocktail menu, but Anvil also publishes a list of 100 classics that they’re ready to make whenever you want one. Ask to see said list, broken into descriptive categories like “sour and short” and “bitter and bold,” and you can knock back a refreshing Gimlet or a boozy Sazerac. Or 98 other classics.

Address: 1424 Westheimer Rd Ste B, Houston, TX 77006

Opening hours: Daily 2pm-2am

Expect to pay: Most cocktails are $12-16, and sandwiches are $12. 

What is it? A quirky, fun-loving downtown bar that takes its spirits and cocktails seriously and employs some of our favorite bartenders in the city.

Why we love it: The sheer volume of options here seems overwhelming at first, with original cocktails and hundreds of spirits on the menu. But the bartenders are happy to help you narrow it down to a cocktail that suits your preferences, or a glass of something you won’t find at every other bar. If you ever wanted to build your own genever flight or learn about shochu, now’s the time. And you can do it from a second-floor perch with a balcony that looks out over downtown, so you get a dose of fresh air and people-watching with every drink.

Time Out tip: Bad News bar is hidden behind an opaque door claiming to be a lawyer’s office. You’re in the right place, so walk in and head up the stairs to the second floor. Don’t worry, you won’t have to make small talk with an attorney to enter. 

Address: 308 Main St, Houston, TX 77002

Opening hours: Daily 5pm-2am

Expect to pay: About $13 for a cocktail, and beers start at $4.

What is it? A retro-styled bar from the same team behind another Houston staple, Eight Row Flint. It’s fun and informal, with reasonably priced drinks and weeknight specials to get you out of the house.

Why we love it: The bar is only a couple years old, but the checkered tile floors, wood panel walls and beer signs create a space that’s reminiscent of a 1970s rec room. It’s more of a “dive” than a dive, but however you want to categorize this place, it feels good to be here. And that’s even before you avail yourself of the spicy nuts, pimento cheese and affordable drinks, including tallboys, margaritas, freezer martinis and a frozen Hurricane riff that’s delightfully named the Slurrrrricane. Come early, stay late, and challenge someone to a game of pool—it’s free on Tuesdays.

Time Out tip: Most of the food menu is centered around simple snacks, hot dogs and chili, but don’t miss Monday’s steak night. That’s when the bar grills up $25 steaks and serves $5 Shiftys, a Lone Star beer and shot combo. Steakhouses could never have this much fun.

Address: 3302 White Oak Dr, Houston, TX 77007

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 2pm-2am; Sat-Sun 11am-2am

Expect to pay: $10 and up for cocktails and about the same for food.

What is it? The gorgeous, Southern-tinged bar from Alba Huerta, an Anvil alum who opened Julep in 2014. The bar has since earned accolades like a James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar Program and a spot on North America’s 50 Best Bars list.

Why we love it: This genteel hangout makes random weeknights feel like a special occasion. The pretty bar up front is adorned with flowers and fruit bowls, and the cozy parlor has a decidedly different vibe full of moody purples and blues. House cocktails feature homemade syrups and infused vermouths, while classics are broken down by spirit category, so it’s easy to find something you like. Don’t leave without trying one of the juleps. Those range from the standard bourbon-laced option to other more unexpected versions, like one made with mezcal and sous vide pineapple wine. If you’re hungry, the bar serves oysters and a variety of small plates.

Time Out tip: With its classy cocktails and shareable snacks, Julep makes a great date spot. If you want to go Lady and the Tramp on a lobster roll with a significant someone, make a reservation for one of the cozy booths in the parlor.

Address: 1919 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007

Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 4pm-12am; Fri-Sat 4pm-2am

Expect to pay: About $50 per person for a couple cocktails and snacks.

What is it? A neighborhood bar in the Heights that’s been serving up solid cocktails, reliable food and friendly service for a decade. 

Why we love it: This small but mighty bar is comfortable and fun, and it provides one of the city’s best values at this quality. The lineup of original creations here are priced fairly, around $12-$16, but the bar serves a dozen classics for $10 all day long. Those classics are even cheaper during happy hour, when you can score a martini or a daiquiri for $5.55. It’s smart to put some food on top of those cocktails, so it’s a good thing the bar serves hearty options like burgers, hotdogs and potato wedges.

Time Out tip: There’s never a bad time to visit, but Johnny’s offers a couple incredible specials early in the week on top of the affordable classics and its generous happy hour. On Mondays, your first espresso martini is just $2, and Tuesdays bring a burger, tots and an old fashioned for only $10.

Address: 2518 Yale St, Houston, TX 77008

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 4pm-2am; Sat-Sun 2pm-2am

Expect to pay: $25-50 per person, depending on what time you’re here.

What is it? Lee’s is one of Houston’s newer bars, and it’s quickly garnered attention for its fun vibe and whimsical menu. It’s part of Local Foods Group and is attached to Milton’s, the popular Italian-American trattoria in Rice Village.

Why we love it: It’s not every day you can drink a green goddess-inspired cocktail made with gin, basil, tarragon and chervil, and pair it with a crab roll loaded with shredded crab and smoked trout roe. Unless you’re at Lee’s, that is, where such things appear nightly. The drinks come from the creative mind of bar director Máté Hartai, and the food is made in a shared kitchen with Milton’s. Make your way through the menu to try other gems like the Appleteeny—which features housemade apple liqueur and is not at all like the usual Appletini—and confit wings that are stuffed with chicken sausage.

Time Out tip: Make a night of it, and combine a stop at Lee’s with dinner at Milton’s. There you’ll find chargrilled oysters, fresh pastas and wood-fired meats, plus all the wines you want to drink with such things.

Address: 5117 Kelvin Dr, Houston, TX 77005

Opening hours: Wed-Sat 4pm-12am

Expect to pay: $16 for house cocktails, with snacks ranging from $5 for spiced nuts to $16 for that crab roll.

What is it? A downtown listening lounge and cocktail bar that’s tucked behind a vintage record store and run by a group of Houston nightlife veterans.

Why we love it: Off the Record does an admirable job setting the scene. It blends vinyl culture and moody vibes with solid drinks. The interior is lined with shelves of records and music memorabilia, and resident DJs supply a steady soundtrack that crosses genres and eras. The bar gets louder as the night gets later, but you can still talk to the people you came with. Cocktails are music-themed, like the gin-laced Rolling Stone and the Soul Train, made with bourbon, Campari, citrus and absinthe. The bar also makes a variety of classics, like Old fashioned, Negronis and spritzes.

Time Out tip: If you’re into vinyl and want to take something home with you, ask a staff member about the selection of records lining the walls because some are available to purchase.

Address: 416 Main St, Houston, TX 77002

Opening hours: Thurs-Sat 8pm-2am; Sun 8pm-12am

Expect to pay: $10-$16 for mocktails and cocktails, and $7 for beers. 

What is it? A beloved dive that’s been operating since 1928. The family-run establishment is named for its past as an actual ice house, where locals would hang out and drink cold beverages before the days of in-home refrigeration.

Why we love it: A few things have changed here over the decades, but plenty has stayed the same, including the old-school charm that’s attracted multiple generations of drinkers. The open-air bar is joined by a few covered seats and lots of picnic tables on the patio, and there are several bar games, like ping pong, pool and cornhole. Come during a game to watch sports on the TVs, or just post up anytime with a Lone Star, a local beer or something else canned and cold, like a seltzer or cider. The bar opens most days at 10am.

Time Out tip: West Alabama Ice House doesn’t serve food, but it’s situated next to the Tacos Tierra Caliente food truck, so you can order from the truck and eat at the bar. That makes one of the more affordable dinner-and-drinks outings you can have.

Address: 1919 W Alabama St, Houston, TX 77098

Opening hours: Sun 12pm-12am; Mon-Fri 10am-12am; Sat 10am-1am

Expect to pay: Not much. Domestic beers start at just a few bucks.